WASHINGTON: Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appeared on Wednesday for confirmation as the next US ambassador to India, 20 months after he was initially selected for the post and after a sexual assault scandal involving the one-time top adviser. Middle.
The nomination cleared a crucial test vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, 52-42. The vote unfolded with some suspense, as it was unclear whether progressive Democrats would have enough support to proceed. But he managed to win over a handful of Republican senators, putting him over the top. A final vote was set for later in the day.
Nominations for the top diplomat languish in the Senate for 20 months after President Joe Biden is first nominated in July 2021.
The ambassadorial vacancy leaves a significant diplomatic gap for the administration at a time of rising global tensions, including China’s increasingly assertive presence in the Pacific and Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The nomination has been dogged with questions about what the former mayor knew, and allegations of sexual assault against his friend and one-time close adviser. Rick Jacobs, One lawsuit alleged that Jacobs frequently harassed one of the then-mayor’s police bodyguards while Garcetti ignored the abuse or laughed it off.
Garcetti has repeatedly denied the claims.
Wednesday’s vote will test Democratic loyalty to Biden, and also measure the assessment of Garcetti’s judgment and credibility stemming from City Hall’s allegations.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said, “I think we can find someone who will do a better job.”
Garcetti also failed to win over Democrat Mark Kelly of Arizona, who he said had “serious concerns”.
But Republicans stepped in to fill the gap in the test vote, assuring his confirmation.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said, “I met with him in person. He clearly has a lot of expertise about India. India has gone two years without an ambassador, and that is a very long time. And I’m going to support them.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who supported Garcetti in a committee vote, said he would also vote in favor.
“There is an imperative of national security to immediately appoint an ambassador to India. We can’t wait any longer,” Young said.
Rachel Rizzo, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said she felt frustrated about the lack of an ambassador during a recent visit to India. She said that it “gives the impression that the relationship is not important.”
“It really points to internal dysfunction in the US Congress at the moment, and it makes it very difficult for us to send the messages we are trying to send when it looks to our diplomatic partners that we have our The house is not in order,” she said.
“I think that’s been an issue for the last few years.”
The nomination cleared a crucial test vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, 52-42. The vote unfolded with some suspense, as it was unclear whether progressive Democrats would have enough support to proceed. But he managed to win over a handful of Republican senators, putting him over the top. A final vote was set for later in the day.
Nominations for the top diplomat languish in the Senate for 20 months after President Joe Biden is first nominated in July 2021.
The ambassadorial vacancy leaves a significant diplomatic gap for the administration at a time of rising global tensions, including China’s increasingly assertive presence in the Pacific and Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The nomination has been dogged with questions about what the former mayor knew, and allegations of sexual assault against his friend and one-time close adviser. Rick Jacobs, One lawsuit alleged that Jacobs frequently harassed one of the then-mayor’s police bodyguards while Garcetti ignored the abuse or laughed it off.
Garcetti has repeatedly denied the claims.
Wednesday’s vote will test Democratic loyalty to Biden, and also measure the assessment of Garcetti’s judgment and credibility stemming from City Hall’s allegations.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said, “I think we can find someone who will do a better job.”
Garcetti also failed to win over Democrat Mark Kelly of Arizona, who he said had “serious concerns”.
But Republicans stepped in to fill the gap in the test vote, assuring his confirmation.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said, “I met with him in person. He clearly has a lot of expertise about India. India has gone two years without an ambassador, and that is a very long time. And I’m going to support them.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who supported Garcetti in a committee vote, said he would also vote in favor.
“There is an imperative of national security to immediately appoint an ambassador to India. We can’t wait any longer,” Young said.
Rachel Rizzo, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said she felt frustrated about the lack of an ambassador during a recent visit to India. She said that it “gives the impression that the relationship is not important.”
“It really points to internal dysfunction in the US Congress at the moment, and it makes it very difficult for us to send the messages we are trying to send when it looks to our diplomatic partners that we have our The house is not in order,” she said.
“I think that’s been an issue for the last few years.”
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